Labor accused of gagging call by police

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The Liberal members of State Parliament's powerful Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee have accused the Bracks Government of interfering with a police submission to a parliamentary inquiry into drugs.

In a minority report to be delivered to Parliament today, State Opposition police spokesman Kim Wells and former transport minister Robin Cooper are believed to claim that the Government used new guidelines that allow ministers to veto "politically sensitive" information to stop Victoria Police calling for changes to drug laws.

Documents recently released by the Government under the Freedom of Information Act, after a delay of several months, show senior police were stopped from appearing before the committee last October after the Justice Department raised concerns about their submission.

The submission, released later last year, called for drug dog squads to be given powers to patrol railway stations, shopping centres and dance parties.

The Age believes the minority report refers to Mr Wells being tipped off by a police officer that the parliamentary committee was not going to get the full story on amphetamine and party drug use in Victoria in the police submission.

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It is also believed Mr Wells and Mr Cooper claim to have been prevented by Government members of the committee from questioning police at hearings.

They are thought to have raised concerns about police having to get permission from Police Minister Andre Haermeyer's office instead of Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon to appear before the committee.

Documents show Superintendent Paul Ditchburn, the officer liaising with the committee, told Ms Nixon's office the Justice Department's actions raised issues that needed resolving, such as separation of powers.

A spokesman for Mr Haermeyer said last month that the submission veto had been reversed by the Government. He said the veto was an "over-zealous application" by the Justice Department of rules on committee appearances, and the committee later saw an uncensored version of the submission.